Lookinglink Ads

What is Lookinglink?

The Lookinglink browser plugin claims to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling coupons and comparison shopping. While such functionality may seem legitimate, Internet users should be aware that this browser extension is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

It installs on browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent and generates intrusive search, banner, text link, transitional, interstitial, and full page ads when surfing the Internet.

Furthermore, Lookinglink tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, unique identifier numbers, operating systems, browser information, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, and other software and hardware information.

The presence of this potentially unwanted application can lead to privacy issues and malware infections. While this plugin promises to add useful features, in fact, it is a useless add-on, which diminishes browser performance and aims to generate revenue by displaying various third party ads.

A clear indication that your Internet browsers are infected with this adware are "lookinglink ads", "powered by lookinglink", and "lookinglink deals" advertisements visible whilst browsing the Internet.

Lookinglink adware is identical to previous variants named Bizzybolt, Browsebit, and Trontizer. The developers of these potentially unwanted applications release identical browser plug-ins under different names in order to avoid detection by legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.

Today, the majority of freeware download websites (including download.com, softonic.com, and many others) use 'download clients' - small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen free program, thus, reckless freeware downloading can result in adware infections.

To avoid installation of Lookinglink or any other adware, inspect each download step and decline installation of any promoted browser plug-ins. Computer users who see ads generated by lookinglink should use this removal guide to eliminate adware from their Internet browser/s.

Deceptive free software download client used in Lookinglink adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is Lookinglink?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Lookinglink application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Lookinglink add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Lookinglink plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Lookinglink extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Lookinglink extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Lookinglink ads removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for "lookinglink", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes lookinglink ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer use recommended malware removal software.

Remove lookinglink ads from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "lookinglink", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the lookinglink virus, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "lookinglink", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the lookinglink virus, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove "lookinglink".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with lookinglink virus removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the lookinglink virus, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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